Vending machine door lock and vended item carrier motion control

ABSTRACT

A vending machine having a number of levels of carriers for items to be vended. The carriers on each level are all moved along a predetermined pathway, thereby delivering the carriers in sequence to an access door at each level. Each door is blocked closed by a solenoid controlled door blocking abutment. Each solenoid is in circuit with a proper deposited coinage activated switch and with a separate manually operable selector switch associated with each level. A door is released when a vendee deposits his money and selects an item to be vended at a particular level. After an item on a level has been vended, the machine includes means for moving the carriers at that level to move the next carrier into position adjacent to the door. The moving means is switched on when the access door is reclosed after an item has been vended, and the door blocking abutment moves back to the door blocking position. The means that operates the carrier moving means includes a switch which senses the position of the carriers and activates the moving means until the next carrier moves adjacent to the access door.

.Hoffer et al.

[ Mar. 12, 1974 VENDING MACHINE DOOR LOCK AND VENDED ITEM CARRIER MOTIONCONTROL Inventors: Arthur I-Ioffer, Dix Hills; William Danziger,Lynbrook, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Transvac Electronics Inc.,

Plainview, NY.

Filed: July 13, 1972 Appl. No.: 271,230

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1959 Hoban 1'94/10 X 2/1964Johnson... 221/120 X 12/1958 Smith 194/10 X 10/1957 Barker 194/10 XPrimary.Examiner--Robert B. Reeves Assistant fi cgmigg Thomas E.Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Ostrolenkfl ab er, Goth 8L Soffen 71ABSTRACT A vending machine having a number of levels of carriers foritems to be vended. The carriers on each level are all moved along apredetermined pathway, thereby delivering the carriers in sequence to anaccess door at each level. Each door is blocked closed by a solenoidcontrolled door blocking abutment. Each solenoid is in circuit with aproper deposited coinage activated switch and with a separate manuallyoperable selector switch associated with each level. A door is releasedwhen a vendee deposits his money and selects an item to be vended at aparticular level. After an item on a level has been vended, the machineincludes means for moving the carriers at that level to move the nextcarrier into position adjacent to the door. The moving means is switchedon when the access door is reclosed after an item has been vended, andthe door blocking abutment moves back to the door blocking position. Themeans that operates the carrier moving means includes a switch whichsenses the position of the carriers and activates the moving means untilthe next carrier moves adjacent to the access door.

27 Figures MI W 111 IIIIYI'r Pmmmamzmu 3796294 sum 3 or 4 VENDINGMACHINE DOOR LOCK AND VENDED ITEM CARRIER MOTION CONTROL The presentinvention relates to a vending machine, and particularly to a means forunlocking an access door for permitting access to an item to be vendedand to a means for moving the next item to be vended into a vendposition at the completion of a prior vend transaction.

The present invention is principally used in connection with a vendingmachine having a number of levels. Each level has a plurality ofvendible item carriers on it. Each carrier is moved into positionadjacent to an access door through which items are removed. Inaccordance with the present invention, each of the access doors at eachof the levels of the vending machine is normally blocked against openingby a respective abutment which is normally urged to its blockingposition. In the preferred embodiment, the door is a sliding door thatslides in its own plane.

When a solenoid device that is associated with the abutment isactivated, the abutment is moved from its blocking position and the doormay be opened. The solenoid device is an electric circuit with a powersupply and with switch means which must be activated before the solenoidis activated. For each access door, there is a manually operableselector switch which comprises part of the switch means. The vendeeoperates one such switch to select which access door may be opened.There is also a common money activated switch which comprises part ofthe switch means and is in circuit with all of the selector switches.The money activated switch is activated when proper money or coinage isdeposited by the vendee.

The solenoid device operates only so long as the manually operableselector switch is activated. However, the vendee is likely to operatethe selector switch for only a short period of time. Accordingly, toprevent the abutment from settling back and blocking opening of the doorbefore the operator has had an opportunity to manually open the door,the abutment is latched against rcclosing. A release means associatedwith the latch means is activated by movement of the door to release theabutment when the door opens. The abutment-is urged into its blockingposition when the door is completely reclosed.

All of the solenoid devices are connected with a common money mechanismrecycling switch means such that when any selector switch is operated tomove its abutment out of the door blocking position, the recyclingswitch means recycles the money mechanism to its start condition toready it for the next vend transaction.

After an access door is reclosed, the carriers on that level shouldshift so that the next carrier is moved adjacent to the access door. Thecarriers on each prohibits are carried on an elongated support, like anendless belt or chain. A motor means moves the support and the carriers.The motor means is in a circuit which includes a power supply andincludes switch means which is activated in order to move the carriersand which is deactivated when the succeeding. carrier is adjacent to theaccess door.

One of the switches of the carrier operating switch means is associatedwith the access door and is closed and activated only after the accessdoor is reclosed. This prohibits access to a succeeding vendible itemwithout it being paid for. This switch may be connected to the dooritself or to the door blocking abutment, such that when the abutmentshifts to block the now closed door, it also activates this switch.

Another switch of the carrier operating switch means senses thepositions of the carriers. Prior to a vend transaction, this switch isin contact with one of the carriers and is normally open. The switchincludes a sensor which is positioned to be engaged by the access dooras it is being opened. When it is engaged by the access door this sensordisengages the switch from the carrier, which serves to close theswitch. Because the previously described door position sensing switch isnow opened because the door is open, the carriers do not move. However,when the door is reclosed, both of the abutment activated and carrieractivated switches are closed and the carriers begin to move. Thecarrier position activated switch remains closed until the next carrierin sequence contacts this switch and reopens it.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a vendingmachine which moves objects to be vended adjacent to access doors andwhich permits a vendee to gain acceess to a vendible item he selects andwhich prevents more than a single item to be vended through a singleaccess door during a single vend transaction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means forpreventing opening of the access door until predetermined conditionsoccur.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide means formoving the carriers for the items to be vended such that when an item isvended, the succeeding carrier is moved adjacent to the access door forthe next vend transaction.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the interior of a vending machine inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one level in the vending machine of FIG. I alongthe line and in the direction of arrows 2 in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation detail view of the mecha nism thatcontrolsoperation of an access door into one of the levels of the endingmachine, viewed along the line and in the direction of arrows 3 in FIG.1',

FIG. 4 is a front elevtion view of the mechanism 0 FIG. 3, along theline and in the direction of arrows 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electric circuit involved in opening aparticular access door at one of the levels of the vending machine;

FIGS. 6-9 shows various positions for the means which latches the accessdoor;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a fragment of one level of the vendingmachine, showing the switching mechanism that controls movement of thecarriers that deliver an item to be vended adjacent to the access doorinto the vending machine;

FIG. 11 is a view of the mechanism of FIG. 10 in a second operativeposition;

FIG. 12 is a view of the mechanism of FIG. 10 in a third operativeposition; and

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the electric circuit involved inmoving the vendible item carriers so that the next carrier in sequencewill be moved adjacent to the access door of the vending machine.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, vending machineincludes a fixed housing 12 within which its components are located,which housing also includes an immovable frame to which variouscomponents are affixed.

Within the vending machine are a number of virtually identical vendibleitem carrier levels 14, 16, 17, 18. Although four levels areillustrated, there may be any number of levels in accordance with thepresent inven- I Table 22 is supported by means (not shown) in the'housing 12. Table 22 includes bearings supporting and positioning shaft24 for guide roller 26 and shaft 28 for guide roller 30. Endless carriersupport 32, which may be a chain or a belt, passes around guide rollers26, 30. Endless support 32 bends at 34, and is guided by roller to bend.

Carrier support moving means, comprising conventional motor 36, isconnected by conventional means 38 with shaft 24 for rotating the shaftand moving endless support 32. Operation of motor 36 is controlled bythe below described electric circuit shown in FIG. 13. Note that thereare separate motors 36 at each level at the vending machine. In theevent that one of the motors breaks down or one of: the levels of thebending machine becomes inoperative, each of the levels of the vendingmachine remains independently operable. I

Support 32 includes appropriate conventional fastening means 42 whichfasten the support centrally of the rear surfaces of the vended itemcarriers .43, 44, 46, etc. These carriers are illustrated as being boxeswith out a front wall, therebypermitting access into the box. An item tobe vended is placed in each box and. it is removed by the vendee. Thedesign of the carriers is not significant, except insofar as the'body ofeach carrier serves to activate motor 36, as described below. The itemsto be vended form no part of the present invention, although in aparticular application of the invention, a six-pack of beverage cans isplaced in each carrier.

Vending machine housing 12 is completely closed prventing access to theitems to be vended and to the carriers. At each level 14, 16, etc. is anaccess door 50 which is opened by a vendee. Each door 50 is positionedso that when it is opened, there is a carrier adjacent to the accessdoor and the vendee can reach through the open wall of the carrier andremove the item in it. Access door 50 may be transparent to permit avendee to see the item that will be vended through that door. FIGS. 3and 4 illustrate sliding access door 50 for level 14 and the means whichcontrol door operation. Door 50 is carried and guided by brackets 52, 54which guide door 50 to slide. Movement to the right in the direction ofarrow 56 in FIG. 4 opens door 50, and

movement to the left in the direction of arrow 58 recloses the door.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, when door 50 is closed, i.e. in thedashed line position in FIG. 4, door blocking abutment 60 extends belowupper edge 61 of the door and blocks opening of the door. By means to bedescribed, abutment 60 is carried on frame 12 of the vending machine andis movable with respect to frame 12 and door 50. Until abutment 60 ismoved out of the way of door 50, the door cannot be opened. Abutment 60is carried by latch plate 62, which in turn joined to and carried bysupport arm 64. Arm 64 is slotted at 66 to receive guide posts 68 thatextend out of frame 12 and guide the direction of shifting of abutment60. Arm 64 is joined to solenoid device 70 by means of cross arm 72,which is, in turn, joined to solenoid plunger 74. Cross arm 72 alsoserves as an operator for switch 190, as described below.

To raise abutment 60 out of its blocking position with respect to door50, solenoid 70 must be energized. The electric circuit in whichsolenoid 70 is located and which causes its operation is described inconnection with FIGS..1 and 5.

Conventional'money or coin mechanism 76 receives and totals the money orcoinage deposited by a vendee. Such totalizers are well known in theart. When adequate money is deposited, a signal is sent to conventionalmoney activated mechanism 78, which may, for example, be a solenoid, andwhich simultaneously closes the money activated switches 80 for all ofthe levels of the vending machine. While there is a separate moneyactivated switch 80 for each level, all are simultaneously operated.Hence, there is a common money operated mechanism for all levels.

The vendee next selects the desired item 'to be vended by pressing theappropriate selector button 81, 82, 83 that is adjacent to the accessdoor for the level on which the selected item is located. Operation of aparticular selector button completes the circuit from power supply 84 tothe solenoid device for the respective level of the vending machine.Operation of selector switch 81 for level 14 operates solenoid 70. In asimilar manner, operation of selector switches 82, 83 energizessolenoids 85, 86, respectively for levels 16, 18, repectively.

Of course, an operator should not. be able to activate more than oneselector switch at a time and an appropriate relay may be providedsothat when one selector switch is operated, none of the others may beoperated until money mechanism 76 is recycled to the start positionillustrated 'in FIG.,5 with all of money activated switches 80 beingopen.

In addition, the vendees act of making a selection by operating a singleselector switch 81 recyclesthe money mechanism back to the startcondition and also serves to preclude energization of more than onesolenoid device at a time. There is a common recycling switch operatorbar 88 which includes a number of solenoid plunger engaging downwardlyfacing surfaces 90. The positions and spacing of surfaces 90 areselected so that when all of the solenoids 70, etc. are deene rgized,each surface 90 sits on the upper side of an above described cross arm72 which is connected with solenoid plunger 74. When any solenoidplunger moves upward in FIG. 3 or 4, bar 88 moves upward. Movement ofbar 88 is guided by elongated slots 92 in the bar which receive guideposts 94 that are carried on frame Bar 88'carries pivot mount 96 forpivotable switch arm 98. Switch arm 98 carries contact 102 which is heldseparated from contact 104 by abutment 106 which is part of frame 12.When bar 88 moves upward, switch arm 98 pivots contact 102 clockwisetoward contact 104 until bar 88 moves up sufficiently to close thecontacts. This energizes money mechanism recycling means 108 which is aconventional means for reopening all of the money activated switches 80in money mechanism 76. Hence, as soon as a vendee makes an itemselection, the money mechanism is recycled and is ready for the nextvend transaction. When the selector switch is released, the solenoid isdeactivated, bar 88 returns to its start position and means 108 isdeactivated. But, recycling has been completed.

Turning to FIG. 3, when solenoid 70 is energized by operation ofselector switch 81, abutment 60 moves out of the way of and, therefore,unlocks sliding door 50. A vendee will not normally hold switch 81activated and will usually release it before opening door 50. Abutment60 would settle back to its blocking position of FIG. 6 and again blockdoor 50 before the vendee could remove the item for which he had paid.

To prevent premature relocking of door 50, a latching mechanism isprovided. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, latch plate 62 comprises a supportcrossbar 112, which is relatively short in height and above and belowwhich there is no obstructing material. Cooperating with crossbar 112 islatching hook 116. Hook 116 is carried by latch bar 118 which is urgedby biasing means 120 to the left in FIG. 4 in. the direction of arrow58. Bar 118 is guided in its below described movement to both left andright by means of slots 122, 124 in bar 118, which slots receive guidepost 126, 128, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, when hook I 16 is in its normal position, biasingmeans 120 urges the hook sufficiently to the left in FIG. 4 that it ispast crossbar 112. Flattened upper surface 134 off hook 116 preventscrossbar 112 from descending past hook 116. Lower surface 132 of hook116 is rounded so that when crossbar 112 rises in FIG.-4, it moves hook116 and bar 118 to the right, in the direction of arrow 56, untilcrossbar 112 passes hook 116, whereupon biasing means 120 moves hook 116back to the left into its blocking position.

Operation of the latching mechanism is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6-9.Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, when solenoid 70 is deneergized, crossbar 72is in the lowermost broken line position shown in FIG. 3 and abutment 60is in the low position, shown in FIG. 6, blocking door 50. Crossbar 112is substantially below hook 116.

FIGS. 3 and 7 illustrate the situation when solenoid 70 is energized.The solid line positions of crossbar 72 and connection plate 64 and thepositions of abutment 60 and crossbar 122 are shown in FIG. 3. As shownin FIG. 7, abutment 60 has been raised substantially above and out ofthe way of door 50. Crossbar 112 has slid pas hook 116 and the book hassnapped back to position beneath the crossbar. The crossbar is now aboveand spaced away from hook 116.

Turning to FIG. 8, when the vendee releases selector switch 81 and thisswitch reopens, solenoid 70 is deactivated. Solenoid plunger 74, latchplate 62, crossbar 112 and abutment 60 are urged back to their positionof FIG. 6. In the illustrated embodiment, solenoid 70.

has raised abutment 60 vertically upward, whereby the above notedelements are urged back by gravity. However, if a different orientationof these elements were adopted, appropriate biasing means would be usedfor urging these elements back to their positions of FIG. 6. Abutment 60and crossbar ll2settle back until crossbar 112 is resting on uppersurface 134 of hook 116. Hook 116 prevents further descent of abutment60. Abutment 60 has not moved back sufiiciently to interfere withmovement of door 50 and the vendee may still open that door, although hehas released selector switch 81. Door 50 does not become relocked beforethe vend transaction is completed. To remove hook 116 from the positionat which is holds abutment 60 out of the way of door 50, the latchrelease mechanism, shown in FIG. 4, is provided. Above mentioned pin128, which is affixed to the housing frame, also pivotally supportslatch release plate 133. Pin 134 extends out of plate 133 and into anotch 136 out into latch bar 118. Depending abutment roller 138 isrotatably carried at 140 on plate 133. Plate 133 is so shaped andpositioned and roller 138 is so positioned with respect to plate 133that when door 50 is closed at its dashed line position of FIG. 4,roller 138 hangs down so that it will be in the pathway of door 50 asthe door opens. The engagement between door 50 and roller 138 occurswhen the door is at its solid line position of FIG. 4. When roller 138is contacted, it moves to the right in the direction of arrow 56 in FIG.4. Plate 133 pivots counterclockwise in FIG. 4 and post 134 on plate 133engages in notch 136 and moves bar 118 to the right, thereby moving hook116 out from beheath crossbar 112.

Turning to FIG. 9, now that hook 116 no longer blocks crossbar 112, thatcrossbar and abutment 60 drop down. As shown in FIG. 4, door 50 is nowopened.

1 Hence, abutment 60 cannot drop down to its door blocking position ofFIG. 6. Instead, it drops until its lower surface 142 rests on uppersurface 61 of door 50. In this position, abutment 60 is not blocking anymovement of door 50. The vendee can continue opening door to its fullextent, can remove the item being vended and can reclosc door 50. Whendoor 50 is G- nally reclosed by being moved in the direction of arrow 58to its closed, dashed line position in FIG. 4, the door moves free ofabutment and the abutment then drops back to its position of FIG. 6. Thedescent of abutment 60 and crossbar 72 operates the carrier moving meansswitch 190, described below.

The means which releases hook 116 from its supporting position of FIG.8, namely roller 138 and plate 133, is spaced a distance away fromabutment 60, as shown in FIG. 4. The hook release means might be locatedright at abutment 60, so that as soon as door 50 begins to open, theabutment drops to its position of FIG. 9 and relocks door 50 when it isreclosed. However, it has been found that vendees often do not openaccess door 50 in a single smooth stroke. Instead, they hesitate or morethe door slightly back and forth before opening it. Roller 138 is sopositioned that by the time the leading edge of door 50 contacts it, itis clear that the vendee intends to fully open the door to gain accessto the vendible item. On the other hand, roller 138 should not be placedso far from abutment 60 that a vendee could reach his hand through thesmall door opening that occurs. before door 50 contacts roller 138.

After a vendee has removed an item from the carrier 44 that is adjacentto access door 50, the next carrier 43 in sequence should be movedadjacent to access door 50. Means are needed for activating motor 36 forbringing carrier 43 adjacent to access door 50 and for then stoppingmotor 36. Also, motor 36 should not be activated until the vendee in theprior vend transaction has removed the item from carrier 44. Furtherstill, the carriers should not shift until access door.50 has beenreclosed and locked, lest the vendee of the item in carrier 44 be ableto additionally obtain the item in carrier 43 without paying for it.

Turning to FIG. 13, motor 36 is in circuit with power supply 148, withvendible item carrier position sensing switch 150, which sensesthe-positions of the carriers and is closed after completion of the vendtransaction for carrier 44 and is opened when carrier 43 has moveed intothe access position adjacent to access door 50, and an access doorposition sensing switch 190 which is closed when access door 50 has beenrelocked.

Switch 150 is inside housing 151 which is immovably secured to frame 12of the vending machine, e.g., by being secured to plate 22.

In FIGS. -12, the means for activating and deactivating switch 150 areshown. Switch 150 includes an operator button 152 and a resilientoperator arm 154 for depressing button 152. When resilient arm 154 ispressed counterclockwise against the direction in which it is normallyresiliently urged and against button 152 to thereby depress the button,switch 150 is opened or deactivated. When arm 154 is permitted toresiliently deflect away from button 152 and the button is notdepressed, switch 150 is closed or activated. The means for movingresilient arm 154 between the button depressed position of FIG. 10, onthe one hand, and the button undepressed position of FIGS. 11 and 12, onthe other hand, is carrier position sensor 160, and in particular itsupstanding shelf 156 which is adapted to engage and press upon abuttingroller 158, which is part of resilient arm 154.

Extending up from fixed table surface 22 are carrier position sensorsupport posts 162,164. For receiving post 162, sensor 160 includes a cutout slot 166 of a length and width to permit and guide movement ofsensor I60. Sensor 160 also pivots around post 162. Slot 168 and pin 164received therein also serve to guide sensor 160. Sensor 160 has motionleft, right, clockwise and counterclockwise in FIG. 10 and the sizes andshapes of slots 166, 168 are chosen to permit this movement. Biasingspring means 170-joins plate 22 and sensor 160 and normally urges sensor160 to move in a manner which pivots it clockwise and moves it to theright in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 10, the carriers move to the right in the direction of arrow 56.At the trailing end of sensor 160 With respect to the movement of thecarrier and to the left of the sensor pivot post 162, sensor 160 isprovided with a carrier contacting abutment roller 172 which engages andseats against lip 174 that depends beneath carrier 46. As illustrated inFIG. 10, carrier 46 is beginning its turn about roller 30 and itstrailing end swings around and sweeps into roller 172, moving the rollerdownward, as viewed in FIG. 10, which pivots sensor 160counterclockwise, and moves resilient arm I54 and switch operator button152 so that switch 150 is deactivated.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 10, access door 50 is closed andlocked by abutment 60. After a vendee activates solenoid and abutment 60is no longer blocking door 50, as shown in FIG. 11, door 50 is beingopened to the right, in the direction of arrow 56. Eventually, theleading edge of door 50 contacts and then rolls past roller 176 on doorposition sensor 180. Sensor 180 is pivotably mounted at 182 to housing151. As can be seen by a comparison of FIGS. 10 and 1 1, when door 50moves past roller 176, sensor 180 is pivoted counterclockwise. Doorposition sensor 180 carries a fixed pin 184 which engages in elongatedslot 186 in carrier position sensor 160. When sensor 180 pivotscounterclockwise, pin 184 travels through slot 186 and the pin alsourges sensor to the left, as seen in a comparison -of FIGS. 10 and 11.Abutment 172 I is moved to the left of and past depending front lip 174of carrier 46. Now, lip 174 no longer blocks sensor 160 from beingpivoted clockwise under the influence of biasing means and the sensor sopivots until carrier 46 engages shelf 156 on sensor 160. Through thispivoting of sensor 160, resilient arm 154 is permitted to deflectclockwise, switch button 152 is no longer depressed and switch 150 isactivated. Motor 36 does not operate, however, because switch 190 hasnot yet been closed or activated.

Turning to FIG. 12, after the vendee has removed the item from carrier44, he recloses door 50 in the direction of arrow 58. Once door 50 hasmoved past roller 176, the door is no longer biasing sensorcounterclockwise, and biasing means 170 now operates to move carrierposition sensor 160 to the right in FIG. 12 in the direction of arrow56.

Note the resulting position of abutment roller 172. In FIG. 10, it washeld below pending carrier lip 174. Because the abutment 172 was abovelip 174 in FIG. 11, when sensor 160 is moved to the right into theposition of FIG. 12, abutment roller 172 moves along the other side andabove depending lip 174. In FIG. 12 roller 172 is hidden beneath carrier46. In FIG. 10, when roller 172 was on the one side of lip 174, sensor160 was in the position which deactivated switch 152. However, in FIG.12, when roller 172 is on the other side of lip 174, it cannot pivotcounterclockwise sufficiently to move resilient arm 154 to depressswitch operator button 152, whereby switch 150 remains closed andactivated and, therefore, enables motor 36 to operate. As will bedescribed below, when door 50 is fully closed, switch will also beclosed and motor 36 will then operate to move the carriers.

When carrier 46 moves free of abutment roller 172, the urging of biasingmeans 170 pivots abutment roller 172 clockwise about post 162 and,therefore, holds shelf 156 and resilient arm 154 off switch operatorbutton 52. Sensor 160 shifts so that the upper end in FIG. 12 of slot186 moves against pin 184, but this does not depress button 152. Thecarriers continue to move.

Abutment roller 172 is now down far enough, from its position in FIG.12, so that it is not engaged by the front lip 174 of succeeding carrier44 as that carrier moves straight past abutment roller172. Eventually,the portion of elongated support 32 to which carrier 44 is attachedbegins to move around bend 34 defined by roller 30, and carrier 44swings around, in the manner of carrier 46, until lip 174 near thetrailing end of carrier 44 engages abutment roller 172 and pivots sensor160 counterclockwise until it again assumes the position shown in FIG.10. At this position, switch operator button 152 is again depressed andswitch 150 is opened or deactivated, halting motor 36. Carrier 44 is nowin the position of carrier 46 in FIG. 10. The subsequent carrier 43,which is spaced equidistantly from carrier 44 on support 32 has therebybeen moved to the access location adjacent to access door 50 so that anitem may be removed from carrier 43 during a succeeding vendtransaction.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 13, switch 190, which must be closed andactivated before the carriers will move, is activated only whenpreviously open access door 50 has been reclosed and relocked. This isaccomplished by associating switch 190 with abutment 6.0 such that itwill be closed only when abutment 60 resumes its door locking positionof FIG. 6. Switch 190 is affixed to frame 12 of the vending machine. Itincludes an operator button 192 and a resilient operator arm 194 whichis resiliently deflectable away from button 192 and switch depressesbutton 192 and closes switch 190 when arm 194 is depressed to its brokenline position in FIG. 4.

Arm 194 carries an abutment roller I96. Roller 196 is engaged by theundersurface 198 of above described cross arm 72, which arm is part ofboth solenoid plunger 74 and abutment 60. When abutment 60 is in theposition of FIG. 6, cross arm 72 is in its lowermost broken lineposition of FIG. 3, and switch 190 is closed. When abutment 60 is in anyof the positions of FIGS. 7, 8 or 9, the abutment is not blockingmovement of door 50 and cross arm 72 is sufficiently elevated aboveabutment roller 196 so as not to close switch 190 and the switch is,therefore, open. Abutment 60 does not move to its position of FIG. 6and, therefore, switch 190 is not closed unless door 50 is closed andlocked, whereby motor 36 will not operate until door 50 has beenreclosed and locked.

It is noted that switch 190 is closed a good portion of the time becausedoor 50 is locked a good portion of the time. However, above describedswitch l50, which is also in circuit with motor 36, is always open whendoor 50 is closed before a vend transaction. Thus, both of switchesl50and 190 are closed only after completion of a vend transaction when door50 is relocked by abutment 60.

There has just been described a novel vending machine apparatusincluding means for releasing a locked access door to the items to bevended, a means for preventing dispensing of more than one item in asingle vend transaction and means for moving a loaded vended itemcarrier into position near the access door after completion of a priorvend transaction.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with apreferred embodiment thereof, may variations and modifications will nowbecome apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore,that the present invention be limited not by the specific dis- 0 cessdoor position sensing switch IS connected with and being delivered, inturn, by said delivery system to an access location;

switch means connected with said delivery system motor means; saiddelivery system motor means switch means being adapted when closed toactivate said delivery system motor means and being adapted when openedto deactivate said delivery system motor means;

a first carrier position sensor which is connected with said deliverysystem motor means switch means for activating and deactivating thesame; said first sensor being shaped, positioned, and adapted to beengaged by each said carrier as that said carrier passes by said firstsensor; said first sensor being so positioned and being movable suchthat when a said carrier engages said first sensor, said first sensormeans in a manner which causes said delivery system motor means switchmeans to be opened;

a second sensor connected with said first sensor in a manner such thatwhen activated, the former moves the latter out of engagement with thesaid carrier with which it is in engagement, moves the latter to aposition such that said first sensor closes said delivery system motormeans switch means and moves the latter to a position such tha thelatter will be engaged by the next said carrier in sequence when thatsaid carrier passes by said first sensor.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising an openable accessdoor near said access location; said access door is openable along apredetermined pathway to provide access to a said carrierthat is nearsaid acces door;

said second sensor being positioned so as to be activated by said accessdoor when said door is opened.

3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein said delivery system motormeans switch means additionally comprises an access door positionsensing switch which is closed when said door is closed and which isopened by said door when said door is opened.

4. The vending machine of claim 3, wherein said plurality of carriersare grouped on a plurality of levels in said vending machine;

one of said access doors being provided for each said level; eachsaidaccess door being of a size and being so positioned and the saidcarriers on a said level being spaced suchthat when a said access dooris opened, access through that said access door is permitted to only onesaid carrier on that said level at a time;

a said delivery system and a said moving means for moving said carrierson each level, whereby a different said carrier may be moved to beaccessible to the respective said access door for that level; a i

said delivery system motor means switch means, access door positionsensing switch, first carrier position sensor and second sensor for eachlevel.

5. The vending machine of claim 3, wherein said acoperated by a switchoperating abutment which is held in a first position by said door whensaid door is opened and which said abutment is urged to asecond'position when said door is closed.

6. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein said door position sensingswitch operating abutment is also an abutment that prevents opening ofsaid door when said V 1 1 abutment is in said second position andpermits opening of said door when said abutment is in said firstposition. I i

7. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising:

a pivot for said first sensor; said first sensor comprising an abutmentthat contacts each said carrier and an arm, to which said carrierabutment is attached, that is pivotable about its said pivot between thesaid positions opening and closing said motor means delivery systemswitch means, which said sensor arm therefore pivots said carrierabutment away from and toward a said carrier, respectively; biasingmeans for normally biasing said first sensor to pivot said carrierabutment toward said carrier;

said second sensor being connected with said first sensor so as to movesaid first sensor transversely to its pivoting pathway in the directionopposite the pathway travelled by said carriers when they are moved bysaid delivery system motor means,

whereby when said door is opened said first sensor is moved along andthen'past and then out of contact with the said carrier with which itwas in contact which permits said first sensor to move from the positionthat opens said motor means delivery system switch means to the positionthat closes that said switch means;

means for normally urging said first sensor in the direction oppositethat in which said second sensor moves said first sensor, which urgingmeans also shifts said first sensor to a position where it is engageableby the next said carrier in sequence. I

8. The vending machine of claim 7, wherein said delivery systemcomprises an elongated support to which said carriers are attached inspaced, sequential relationship; means for' guiding said elongatedsupport about a bend, which thereby causes each said carrier to swee inl ivot as it moves ast said bend; said first P g y P P sensor carrierabutment being positioned near and just before said bend so that eachsaid carrier sweeps and swing into said first sensor carrier abutment toshift same away from said carrier and to the said position which openssaid drive system motor means switch means.

9. The vending machine of claim 8, wherein said elongated supportcomprises an endless support; a plurality of guide rolls; said elongatedsupport passing about said guide rolls; and said bend being defined byone of said guide rolls.

10. The vending machine of claim 9, wherein said access door positionsensing switch is connected with and operated by a switch operatingabutment which is held in a first position by said door when said dooris opened and which said abutment is urged to a second position whensaid door is closed; I

said door position sensing switch operating abutment is also an abutmentthat prevents opening of said door when it is in said second positionand permits opening of said door when it is in said first position.

11. The vending machine of claim 10, wherein said plurality of carriersare grouped on a plurality of levels in said vending machine;

one of said access doors being provided for each said.

level; each said access door beingg of a size and being so positionedand the said carriers on a said door is permitted to only one saidcarrier on that said level at a time;

a said delivery system and a said moving means for moving said carrierson each level, whereby a different said carrier may be moved to beaccessible to the respective said access door for that level; a saiddelivery system motor means switch means, access door position sensingswitch, first carrier position sensor and second sensor; access doorposition, sensing switch abutment, pivot and abutment for each saidfirst sensor and means for normally urging said first sensor elongatedendless support of said delivery system and guide rollsdefining a bendall for each level.

12. A-vending machine, comprising:

switch means; a solenoid device; a power source and an electric circuitincluding the foregoing elements, such that closing of said switch meansactivates said solenoid device;

a carrier in said vending machine for holding an item to be vended; anaccess door carried by said vend-- ing machine, which door is normallyclosed and which door is movable to provide access into said vendingmachine to the item in said carrier;

a blocking abutment carried'by said solenoid device and positioned to becontacted by and to block opening movement of said door when saidsolenoid device is deactivated and to be moved out of position to blocksaid door when said'solenoid device is activated;

said switch means comprising a money activated switch which is activatedto a closed position by deposit of a predetermined amount of money inthe vending machine; i

said switch means additionally comprising a separate selector switchwhich is manually activatable to-a closed position by an operator;

latch means for engaging and holding said abutment out of contact withsaid door; said latch means being positioned to engage said abutmentonly after said solenoid device has been activated and said abutment hasbeen moved thereby; said latch means holding said abutment out ofposition fo blocking said door;

latch release means connected with said latch means to release the same,and including means operated in response to opening of said door tooperate said release means when said door is opened; said abutment beingnormally urged to return to a position blocking said door.

13. The vending machine of claim 12, wherein said latch means comprisesacrossbar that is carried by said abutment and a crossbar support hookthat is carried by said vending machine; said hook having two oppositesides; movement of said abutment upon activation of said solenoid devicesimultaneously moves said crossbar from a position on one said side ofsaid support hook, past said support hook and to a position on the othersaid side of said support hook and said crossbar is urged to rest uponsaid other side of said support hook when said solenoid device isdeactivated; said crossbar being normally urged to return past said hookto its position on the one said side of said hook; said support hookbeing shaped and positioned so as to prevent said crossbar fromreturning from said other side of said hook past said hook;

said release means being connected with so as to operate upon saidsupport hook and to move said hook away from the position where saidcrossbar rests thereon. V

14. The vending machine of claim 13, comprising a plurality of saidcarriers; said plurality of carriers being grouped on a plurality oflevels in said vending machine;

a plurality of said access doors; one of said access doors beingprovided for each said level; each said access door being of a size andbeing so positioned and the said carriers on a said level being spacedsuch that when a said access door is opened, access through that saidaccess door is permitted to only one said carrier on that said level ata time; moving means for moving said carriers on each level, whereby adifferent said carrier may be moved to be accessible to the respectivesaid access door for that level;

a single said money activated switch;

a plurality of said electric circuits, each including said single moneyactivated switch, a-respective said selector switch for each saidcircuit and a respective said solenoid device for each said circuit;each said solenoid device carrying a respective said abutment; each ofsaid plurality of said access doors contacting a respective one of saidabutments;

a respective said latch means and a respective said latch release meansfor every said abutment.

15. The vending machine of claim 13, wherein said hook is attached to anarm that is carried by said vending machine; means connected with saidarm to urge said hook toward a position where it would be engaged bysaid crossbar when said crossbar passes thereby in either direction andwhere said hook other side supports said crossbar;

said release means including an abutment surface on said hook arm whichis so positioned as to be engaged by said door only after said door hasbeen partially opened; said hook arm abutment surface being so arrangedthat when it is engaged by said door as the door opens, said hook arm iscaused to move said support hook away from said crossbar, therebypermitting return of said crossbar to said one hook side.

16. The vending machine of claim 15, wherein said door is a sliding doorthat moves by sliding generally in its own plane; means for guidingsliding movement of said door;

said hook arm and its said abutment surface being oriented such thatcontact by said door with said abutment surface does not occur untilafter said door has slid open a distance;

said door blocking abutment being normally urged to a position to blockany sliding opening of said door and being positioned such that aftersaid latch means is released, said abutment moves into engagement withand rides along an edge of said door without preventing movement of saiddoor until said door is reclosed and then said abutment being urged toagain block opening of said door.

17. The vending machine of claim 12, comprising a plurality of saidcarriers arranged on one level in said vending machine; I

a delivery system, including motor means for moving said carriers; saidcarriers on said level being mounted in spaced apart relationship and insequence to said delivery system; by means of said delivery system, eachsaid carrier is delivered, in turn, to an access location adjacent tosad access door;

switch means connected with said delivery system motor means; saiddelivery system motor means switch means being adapted when closed toactivate said delivery system motor means and being adapted when openedto deactivate said delivery system motor means.

18. The vending machine of claim 17, wherein said delivery system motormeans switch means comprises an access door position sensing switchwhich is so connected with said door as to be closedwhen said door isclosed and as to be opened when said door is opened.

19. The vending machine of claim 17, further comprising: V

a first carrier position sensing sensor which is connected with saiddelivery system motor means switch means for activating and deactivatingthe same; said first sensor being shaped, positioned and adapted to beengaged by each said carrier on said level as that said carrier passesby said first sensor; said first sensor being so positioned and beingmovable such that when a said carrier engages said first sensor, saidfirst sensor moves in a manner which causes said delivery system motormeans switch means to be opened;

a second sensor connected with said first sensor in a manner such thatwhen activated, the former moves the latter out of engagement with thesaid carrier with which it is in engagement, moves the latter to apsition such that said first sensor closes said delivery system motormeans switch means and moves the latter to a position such that thelatter will be engaged by the next said carrier in sequence when thatsaid carrier passes by said first sensor.

20. The vending machine of claim 19, wherein said access door isopenable along a predetermined pathway to provide access to a saidcarrier that is near said access door;

said'second sensor being positioned so as to be activated by said accessdoor when said door is opened.

21. The vending machine of claim 20, further comprising:

a pivot for said first sensor; said first sensor comprising an abutmentthat contacts each said carrier and an arm, to which said carrierabutment is attached, that is pivotable about its said pivot between thesaid positions opening and closing said motor means delivery systemswitch means, which said sensor arm therefore pivots said carrierabutment away from and toward a said carrier, respectively; biasingmeans for normally biasing said first sensor to pivot saidcarrierabutment toward said carrier;

said second sensor being connected with said first sensor so as to movesaid first sensor transversely to its pivoting pathway in the directionopposite the pathway travelled by said carriers when they are moved bysaid delivery system motor means,

whereby when said door is opened, said first sensor is moved along andthen past and then out of contact with the said carrier with which itwas in I .contact which permits said first sensor to move from theposition that opens said motor means delivery system switch meansto theposition that closes that said switch means;

means for normally urging said first sensor inthe direction oppositethat in which said second sensor moves said first sensor, which urgingmeans also shifts said first sensor to a position where it is engageableby the next said carrier in sequence.

22. The vending machine of claim 21, wherein said delivery systemcomprises an elongated support to which said carriers are attached inspaced, sequential relationship; means for guiding said elongatedsupport about a bend, which thereby causes each said carrier tosweepingly pivot as it moves past said bend; said first sensor carrierabutment being positioned near and just before said bend so that eachsaid carrier sweeps and swings into said first sensor carrier abutmentto shift same away from said carrier and to the said position whichopens said drive system motor means switch means.

23. The vending machine of claim 22, wherein said elongated supportcomprises an endless support; a plurality of guide rolls; said elongatedsupport passing about said guide-rolls; and said bend being defined byone of said guide rolls.

24. The vending machine of claim 20, wherein said delivery system motormeans switch means additionally comprises an access door positionsensing switch which is so connected with said door as to be closed whensaid door is closed and as to be opened when said door is opened. I

25. The vending machine of claim 24, comprising a plurality of saidcarriers; said plurality of carriers'being grouped on a plurality oflevels in said vending machine;

a plurality of said access doors; one of said access doors beingprovided for each said level; each said access door being of a size andbeing so positioned and the said carriers on a said level being spacedsuch that when a said access door isopened, access through that saidaccess door is permitted to only one said carrier on that said level ata time;

moving means for moving said carriers on each level, whereby a differentsaid carrier may be moved to be accessible to the respective said accessdoor'for that level; i

a single said money activated switch;

a plurality of said electric circuits, each including said single moneyactivated switch, a respective said selector switch for each saidcircuit and a respective said solenoid device for each said circuit;each said solenoid device carrying a respective said abutment; each ofsaid plurality of said access doors contacting the respective one ofsaid abutments;

a respective said latch means and latch release means for every saidabutment, and a delivery system with switch means for its motor means,first carrier position sensor, second sensor and access door positionsensing switch, all for every said level of said vending machine.

26. The vending machine of claim 24, wherein said access door positionsensing switch being connected with and operated by a switch operatingabutment which is held in a first position by said door when said dooris opened and which said abutment is urged to a second position whensaid door is closed.

27. Thevending machine of claim 26, wherein said door position sensingswitch operating abutment is the said abutment that prevents opening ofsaid door.

1. A vending machine, comprising: a plurality of carriers in saidvending machine, each said carrier being adapted to hold an item to bevended; a delivery system to which said carriers are mounted in spacedapart relationship and in sequence; said delivery system including motormeans which moves said carriers; each carrier being delivered, in turn,by said delivery system to an access location; switch means connectedwith said delivery system motor means; said delivery system motor meansswitch means being adapted when closed to activate said delivery systemmotor means and being adapted when opened to deactivate said deliverysystem motor means; a first carrier position sensor which is connectedwith said delivery system motor means switch means for activating anddeactivating the same; said first sensor being shaped, positioned, andadapted to be engaged by each said carrier as that said carrier passesby said first sensor; said first sensor being so positioned and beingmovable such that when a said carrier engages said first sensor, saidfirst sensor means in a manner which causes said delivery system motormeans switch means to be opened; a second sensor connected with saidfirst sensor in a manner such that when activated, the former moves thelatter out of engagement with the said carrier with which it is inengagement, moves the latter to a position such that said first sensorcloses said delivery system motor means switch means and moves thelatter to a position such tha the latter will be engaged by the nextsaid carrier in sequence when that said carrier passes by said firstsensor.
 2. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising anopenable access door near said access location; said access door isopenable along a predetermined pathway to provide access to a saidcarrier that is near said acces door; said second sensor beingpositioned so as to be activated by said access door when said door isopened.
 3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein said delivery systemmotor means switch means additionally comprises an access door positionsensing switch which is closed when said door is closed and which isopened by said door when said door is opened.
 4. The vending machine ofclaim 3, wherein said plurality of carriers are grouped on a pluralityof levels in said vending machine; one of said access doors beingprovided for each said level; each said access door being of a size andbeing so positioned and the said carriers on a said level being spacedsuch that when a said access door is opened, access through that saidaccess door is permitted to only one said carrier on that said level ata time; a said delivery system and a said moving means for moving saidcarriers on each level, whereby a different said carrier may be moved tobe accessible to the respective said access door for that level; a saiddelivery system motor means switch means, access door position sensingswitch, first carrier position sensor and second sensor for each level.5. The vending machine of claim 3, wherein said access door positionsensing switch is connected with and operated by a switch operatingabutment which is held in a first position by said door when said dooris opened and which said abutment is urged to a second position whensaid door is closed.
 6. The vending machine of claim 5, wherein saiddoor position sensing switch operating abutment is also an abutment thatprevents opening of said door when said abutment is in said secondposition and permits opening of said door when said abutment is in saidfirst position.
 7. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising: apivot for said first sensor; said first sensor comprising an abutmentthat contacts each said carrier and an arm, to which said carrierabutment is attached, that is pivotable about its said pivot between thesaid positions opening and closing said motor means delivery systemswitch means, which said sensor arm therefore pivots said carrierabutment away from and toward a said carrier, respectively; biasingmeans for normally biasing said first sensor to pivot said carrierabutment toward said carrier; said second sensor being connected withsaid first sensor so as to move said first sensor transversely to itspivoting pathway in the direction opposite the pathway travelled by saidcarriers when they are moved by said delivery system motor means,whereby when said door is opened said first sensor is moved along andthen past and then out of contact with the said carrier with which itwas in contact which permits said first sensor to move from the positionthat opens said motor means delivery system switch means to the positionthat closes that said switch means; means for normally urging said firstsensor in the direction opposite that in which said second sensor movessaid first sensor, which urging means also shifts said first sensor to aposition where it is engageable by the next said carrier in sequence. 8.The vending machine of claim 7, wherein said delivery system comprisesan elongated support to which said carriers are attached in spaced,sequential relationship; means for guiding said elongated support abouta bend, which thereby causes each said carrier to sweepingly pivot as itmoves past said bend; said first sensor carrier abutment beingpositioned near and just before said bend so that each said carriersweeps and swing into said first sensor carrier abutment to shift sameaway from said carrier and to the said position which opens said drivesystem motor means switch means.
 9. The vending machine of claim 8,wherein said elongated support comprises an endless support; a pluralityof guide rolls; said elongated support passing about said guide rolls;and said bend being defined by one of said guide rolls.
 10. The vendingmachine of claim 9, wherein said access door position sensing switch isconnected with and operated by a switch operating abutment which is heldin a first position by said door when said door is opened and which saidabutment is urged to a second position when said door is closed; saiddoor position sensing switch operating abutment is also an abutment thatprevents opening of said door when it is in said second position andpermits opening of said door when it is in said first position.
 11. Thevending machine of claim 10, wherein said plurality of carriers aregrouped on a plurality of levels in said vending machine; one of saidaccess doors being provided for each said level; each said access doorbeingg of a size and being so positioned and the said carriers on a saidlevel being spaced such that when a said access door is opened, accessthrough that said access door is permitted to only one said carrier onthat said level at a time; a said delivery system and a said movingmeans for moving said carriers on each level, whereby a different saidcarrier may be moved to be accessible to the respective said access doorfor that level; a said delivery system motor means switch means, accessdoor position sensing switch, first carrier position sensor and secondsensor; access door position, sensing switch abutment, pivot andabutment for each said first sensor and means for normally urging saidfirst sensor elongated endless support of said delivery system and guiderolls defining a bend all for each level.
 12. A vending machine,comprising: switch means; a solenoid device; a power source and anelectric circuit including the foregoing elements, such that closing ofsaid switch means activates said solenoid device; a carrier in saidvending machine for holding an item to be vended; an access door carriedby said vending machine, which door is normally closed and which door ismovable to provide access into said vending machine to the item in saidcarrier; a blocking abutment carried by said solenoid device andpositioned to be contacted by and to block opening movement of said doorwhen said solenoid device is deactivated and To be moved out of positionto block said door when said solenoid device is activated; said switchmeans comprising a money activated switch which is activated to a closedposition by deposit of a predetermined amount of money in the vendingmachine; said switch means additionally comprising a separate selectorswitch which is manually activatable to a closed position by anoperator; latch means for engaging and holding said abutment out ofcontact with said door; said latch means being positioned to engage saidabutment only after said solenoid device has been activated and saidabutment has been moved thereby; said latch means holding said abutmentout of position for blocking said door; latch release means connectedwith said latch means to release the same, and including means operatedin response to opening of said door to operate said release means whensaid door is opened; said abutment being normally urged to return to aposition blocking said door.
 13. The vending machine of claim 12,wherein said latch means comprises a crossbar that is carried by saidabutment and a crossbar support hook that is carried by said vendingmachine; said hook having two opposite sides; movement of said abutmentupon activation of said solenoid device simultaneously moves saidcrossbar from a position on one said side of said support hook, pastsaid support hook and to a position on the other said side of saidsupport hook and said crossbar is urged to rest upon said other side ofsaid support hook when said solenoid device is deactivated; saidcrossbar being normally urged to return past said hook to its positionon the one said side of said hook; said support hook being shaped andpositioned so as to prevent said crossbar from returning from said otherside of said hook past said hook; said release means being connectedwith so as to operate upon said support hook and to move said hook awayfrom the position where said crossbar rests thereon.
 14. The vendingmachine of claim 13, comprising a plurality of said carriers; saidplurality of carriers being grouped on a plurality of levels in saidvending machine; a plurality of said access doors; one of said accessdoors being provided for each said level; each said access door being ofa size and being so positioned and the said carriers on a said levelbeing spaced such that when a said access door is opened, access throughthat said access door is permitted to only one said carrier on that saidlevel at a time; moving means for moving said carriers on each level,whereby a different said carrier may be moved to be accessible to therespective said access door for that level; a single said moneyactivated switch; a plurality of said electric circuits, each includingsaid single money activated switch, a respective said selector switchfor each said circuit and a respective said solenoid device for eachsaid circuit; each said solenoid device carrying a respective saidabutment; each of said plurality of said access doors contacting arespective one of said abutments; a respective said latch means and arespective said latch release means for every said abutment.
 15. Thevending machine of claim 13, wherein said hook is attached to an armthat is carried by said vending machine; means connected with said armto urge said hook toward a position where it would be engaged by saidcrossbar when said crossbar passes thereby in either direction and wheresaid hook other side supports said crossbar; said release meansincluding an abutment surface on said hook arm which is so positioned asto be engaged by said door only after said door has been partiallyopened; said hook arm abutment surface being so arranged that when it isengaged by said door as the door opens, said hook arm is caused to movesaid support hook away from said crossbar, thereby permitting return ofsaid crossbar to said one hook side.
 16. The vending machine of claim15, wherein said door is a sliding door thaT moves by sliding generallyin its own plane; means for guiding sliding movement of said door; saidhook arm and its said abutment surface being oriented such that contactby said door with said abutment surface does not occur until after saiddoor has slid open a distance; said door blocking abutment beingnormally urged to a position to block any sliding opening of said doorand being positioned such that after said latch means is released, saidabutment moves into engagement with and rides along an edge of said doorwithout preventing movement of said door until said door is reclosed andthen said abutment being urged to again block opening of said door. 17.The vending machine of claim 12, comprising a plurality of said carriersarranged on one level in said vending machine; a delivery system,including motor means for moving said carriers; said carriers on saidlevel being mounted in spaced apart relationship and in sequence to saiddelivery system; by means of said delivery system, each said carrier isdelivered, in turn, to an access location adjacent to sad access door;switch means connected with said delivery system motor means; saiddelivery system motor means switch means being adapted when closed toactivate said delivery system motor means and being adapted when openedto deactivate said delivery system motor means.
 18. The vending machineof claim 17, wherein said delivery system motor means switch meanscomprises an access door position sensing switch which is so connectedwith said door as to be closed when said door is closed and as to beopened when said door is opened.
 19. The vending machine of claim 17,further comprising: a first carrier position sensing sensor which isconnected with said delivery system motor means switch means foractivating and deactivating the same; said first sensor being shaped,positioned and adapted to be engaged by each said carrier on said levelas that said carrier passes by said first sensor; said first sensorbeing so positioned and being movable such that when a said carrierengages said first sensor, said first sensor moves in a manner whichcauses said delivery system motor means switch means to be opened; asecond sensor connected with said first sensor in a manner such thatwhen activated, the former moves the latter out of engagement with thesaid carrier with which it is in engagement, moves the latter to apsition such that said first sensor closes said delivery system motormeans switch means and moves the latter to a position such that thelatter will be engaged by the next said carrier in sequence when thatsaid carrier passes by said first sensor.
 20. The vending machine ofclaim 19, wherein said access door is openable along a predeterminedpathway to provide access to a said carrier that is near said accessdoor; said second sensor being positioned so as to be activated by saidaccess door when said door is opened.
 21. The vending machine of claim20, further comprising: a pivot for said first sensor; said first sensorcomprising an abutment that contacts each said carrier and an arm, towhich said carrier abutment is attached, that is pivotable about itssaid pivot between the said positions opening and closing said motormeans delivery system switch means, which said sensor arm thereforepivots said carrier abutment away from and toward a said carrier,respectively; biasing means for normally biasing said first sensor topivot said carrier abutment toward said carrier; said second sensorbeing connected with said first sensor so as to move said first sensortransversely to its pivoting pathway in the direction opposite thepathway travelled by said carriers when they are moved by said deliverysystem motor means, whereby when said door is opened, said first sensoris moved along and then past and then out of contact with the saidcarrier with which it was in contact which permits said first sensor tomove from the position that opens said motor meaNs delivery systemswitch means to the position that closes that said switch means; meansfor normally urging said first sensor in the direction opposite that inwhich said second sensor moves said first sensor, which urging meansalso shifts said first sensor to a position where it is engageable bythe next said carrier in sequence.
 22. The vending machine of claim 21,wherein said delivery system comprises an elongated support to whichsaid carriers are attached in spaced, sequential relationship; means forguiding said elongated support about a bend, which thereby causes eachsaid carrier to sweepingly pivot as it moves past said bend; said firstsensor carrier abutment being positioned near and just before said bendso that each said carrier sweeps and swings into said first sensorcarrier abutment to shift same away from said carrier and to the saidposition which opens said drive system motor means switch means.
 23. Thevending machine of claim 22, wherein said elongated support comprises anendless support; a plurality of guide rolls; said elongated supportpassing about said guide rolls; and said bend being defined by one ofsaid guide rolls.
 24. The vending machine of claim 20, wherein saiddelivery system motor means switch means additionally comprises anaccess door position sensing switch which is so connected with said dooras to be closed when said door is closed and as to be opened when saiddoor is opened.
 25. The vending machine of claim 24, comprising aplurality of said carriers; said plurality of carriers being grouped ona plurality of levels in said vending machine; a plurality of saidaccess doors; one of said access doors being provided for each saidlevel; each said access door being of a size and being so positioned andthe said carriers on a said level being spaced such that when a saidaccess door is opened, access through that said access door is permittedto only one said carrier on that said level at a time; moving means formoving said carriers on each level, whereby a different said carrier maybe moved to be accessible to the respective said access door for thatlevel; a single said money activated switch; a plurality of saidelectric circuits, each including said single money activated switch, arespective said selector switch for each said circuit and a respectivesaid solenoid device for each said circuit; each said solenoid devicecarrying a respective said abutment; each of said plurality of saidaccess doors contacting the respective one of said abutments; arespective said latch means and latch release means for every saidabutment, and a delivery system with switch means for its motor means,first carrier position sensor, second sensor and access door positionsensing switch, all for every said level of said vending machine. 26.The vending machine of claim 24, wherein said access door positionsensing switch being connected with and operated by a switch operatingabutment which is held in a first position by said door when said dooris opened and which said abutment is urged to a second position whensaid door is closed.
 27. The vending machine of claim 26, wherein saiddoor position sensing switch operating abutment is the said abutmentthat prevents opening of said door.